The antibiotics can provoke the growth of bacterial colonies

The growth of bacteria can be triggered by antibiotics. This was announced by the staff of the University of Exeter (University of Exeter), who worked with cultures of E. coli – this species can cause stomach pain, diarrhea, and even lead to kidney failure. During the experiments, which lasted for 4 days, scientists eight times subjected E. coli to the effects of antibiotics (doxycycline). E. coli has developed resistance to the drug, which, according to experts, it is expected, however, it was not only the result of experience. Mutated microorganisms multiply faster than before the experiment, and their colonies became three times more.

This effect was observed only among those bacteria that were in contact with antibiotics. Moreover, when the exposure stopped – the changes are preserved. The study’s lead author Robert Bergner (Robert Beardmore) noted that evolution is often called slow, however, this statement is far from the truth – at least if we are talking about microorganisms, and confirm these experiences. Bacteria can change their DNA, and antibiotics become impotent against pathogens. For human cells, such changes are dangerous, but not for microorganisms that, on the contrary, can obtain so many advantages. Mutations can happen fairly quickly – sometimes with just a few days.

Received superbugs E. coli were frozen at minus 80 degrees Celsius, and scientists have begun to study their genome to figure out what changes led to the emergence of microorganisms with new properties. Some modifications have already been known to science – for example, the mechanism by which Escherichia coli “drove out” the drug from the cells. The new changes included the removal of part of the DNA responsible for the destruction of bacteria that helped the colonies of E. coli grow faster, as reported by Carlos Reding (Reding Carlos), who also took part in the scientific work. The researchers stressed that the treatment must use proper antibiotics as quickly as possible to prevent a situation similar to the experimental one.

At the University of Leeds (University of Leeds) also noted the importance of monitoring the use of antibiotics. Scientists have found that in the regions where they are often prescribed antibiotics, and many more were cases of nosocomial infection with Clostridium difficile, including serious forms. Where antibiotics were applied less often, but maintain cleanliness and comply with guidelines for thorough handwashing – where the incidence was lower and the disease itself was held in a milder form.

The world health organization has repeatedly conducted campaigns aimed at informing the population about that. how to drink antibiotics. In 2016, the organization has produced a fact sheet with basic information about antibiotic resistance, which at the moment is one of the main problems of medicine. Recently in the United States from sepsis died the woman, who did not help could not help, no antibacterial agent, was in the country – studies have shown that the disease was caused by bacteria resistant to antibiotics 26.